PHOTO: Oil spill north of Faria Beach (KTLA-TV / March 8, 2011) |
FARIA BEACH (KTLA) -- Officials have reopened parts of a one-mile stretch of the Ventura County coast after an oil spill Tuesday morning they believe was caused by a ruptured pipeline.
The spill was reported Tuesday morning about 1 mile north of Faria Beach from the southern boundary of the Mussel Shoals to the northern boundary of Faria County Park.
The Department of Fish and Game has declared the area off-shore open to fishing Wednesday afternoon after successfully completing on-water recovery operations. They are are expected to continue working on the inland area, which remains closed, through the rest of the week.
Investigators believe a ruptured pipeline owned by Vintage Petroleum may be the cause of the release. "The company reported that the spill was the result of a landslide that ruptured one of their gathering pipelines," a statement from Fish and Game spokeswoman Carol Singleton said Tuesday, "releasing an estimated 210 gallons into the environment."
Spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Department said a camper reported seeing oil seeping onto the beach.
Nash said authorities were working this morning to identify the exact source, but the oil is believed to be coming from somewhere in the nearby oil fields.
The spokesman said Ventura City and County firefighters responded to the scene of the spill, as well as official from the county Environmental Health Department, the state department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The spill was reported Tuesday morning about 1 mile north of Faria Beach from the southern boundary of the Mussel Shoals to the northern boundary of Faria County Park.
The Department of Fish and Game has declared the area off-shore open to fishing Wednesday afternoon after successfully completing on-water recovery operations. They are are expected to continue working on the inland area, which remains closed, through the rest of the week.
Investigators believe a ruptured pipeline owned by Vintage Petroleum may be the cause of the release. "The company reported that the spill was the result of a landslide that ruptured one of their gathering pipelines," a statement from Fish and Game spokeswoman Carol Singleton said Tuesday, "releasing an estimated 210 gallons into the environment."
Spokesman for the Ventura County Fire Department said a camper reported seeing oil seeping onto the beach.
Nash said authorities were working this morning to identify the exact source, but the oil is believed to be coming from somewhere in the nearby oil fields.
The spokesman said Ventura City and County firefighters responded to the scene of the spill, as well as official from the county Environmental Health Department, the state department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Coast Guard.
